Pieces of Love

Chapter 27

It was nearing the end of February and Jacob and I had become masters at avoiding each other. We would see each other in school, yet there was an unspoken agreement that as long as our friends are not around, we would pretend that there never was a friendship between us. Even when we hung out as a group, we would never speak to each other directly. I didn't even bother going to his house for study sessions anymore.

During this whole period of time, I was burying myself deep into my studies, as an escape from the terrible reality. All day I would listen attentively in class and take in more notes than necessary, to the point in which Lily and Sophie worried for me. I would pretend that I didn't hear their hushed conversations about this being unhealthy for me during lunch, though I had to agree: this was certainly not good. As if the huge amount of workload I was subjecting myself to wasn't enough, I was also eating less, not on purpose of course, but because I didn't seem to have the appetite anymore.

I didn't turn into some overly depressed teen that stuffed herself with food while watching romance movies, but there was denying that I was no longer my former happy self. The constant text messages between me and Jacob had frozen into an uncomfortable, awkward silence which neither of us was eager to break. On certain sleepless nights, I would toss and turn in bed, thinking of how Jacob must have felt at my rejection, and I had the uncontrollable urge to apologise to him profusely in person. Yet another part of me reminded myself that this was for my own good; unless I wanted my heart broken again.

The other thought that dominated my brain was the fact that Jacob said he liked me. How was that possible? Since when did this happen? And sometimes, an irrational thought would enter my mind: Do I like him back?

***

On the last day of February, I was found cooped up in my room, practising my violin for more than three hours already. It was well past eleven at night, but my parents were downstairs in the living room watching television, and it was a Friday night, so I wasn't disturbing anybody. The tips of the meaty part of my fingers were rubbed raw till they were red and shining but I continued playing anyways. I was playing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E Minor for what felt like the thousandth time when there was a ringing sound on my phone, signalling that I had a text.

Sighing, I placed my violin back in its case and opened up the message, to see a message from Sophie in the group chat that Lily, Sophie and I had.

Phie: OH MY GOSH GUYS THE NEW BOY IN OUR YEAR IS SO HOT

I chuckled lightly to myself. Trust Sophie to get worked up over something like this. Just when I was about to type in some snarky comment, Lily replied.

L: Phie's not joking Emmy. I saw him today and let's just say... damn

Well, consider my curiosity piqued. I seriously need a distraction from Jacob. My chest ached just thinking of his name.

Emmy: How does he look like?

Phie: He looks like a slice of man heaven.

L: He has brown hair, looks dreamy and is pretty muscular.

I recalled the whole freshmen girls' population buzzing about the new arrival this morning. Unfortunately, I didn't spot the person who was the cause for hormonal teenage girls that day; although I'm pretty sure I was no exception. Turning back to my phone, I practically smashed my fingers into the keyboard as I typed in my next message.

Emmy: Do you guys know his name?

L: Tom

And just like that, it felt as if someone had just slapped me in the face.

No. It can't be him. Right?